8. Dream
CHAPTER EIGHT
DREAM
“Bye! See you tomorrow!” I waved at the manager of The Red Eye. My set had ended and I was all too ready to get back to my place and spend the night with Felix.
I wonder if he’s already inside the apartment waiting for me.
I smiled at the thought.
After everything that happened at the gun range the other day, Felix had been paying extra attention to me.
He’d stay up almost all night, making sure I was able to sleep peacefully…
checking the windows and door constantly.
It was as if he was on edge all the time, expecting something bad to happen.
Like he was trying to keep me hidden from some dark part of his world that was reaching out from the shadows and trying to drag us under. And that frightened me the most.
Happy thoughts…think happy thoughts. No storm clouds.
I made my way through the crowded club, clutching my bag close. The music was blaring, the bass shaking my bones as I tried to squeeze through the drunken crowd of people dancing.
No storms clouds.
My mood lifted, the music carrying my worries and fears away as I danced my way toward the exit. I wasn’t too far from finally breaking free of the crowd when a firm grip on my arm pulled me back. “What the—”
I stopped, staring at someone I’d hope to never see again.
The man grinned, his smile sending a shiver down my spine. His bald head reflected the neon lights as he looked at me with dangerous, dark eyes. “Long time no see, Danika.”
My eyes were wide with both disbelief and fear, seeing him after all this time. I glanced around the room, hoping someone would intervene. “Ray? What are you doing here?” His heavily tattooed arm remained extended, gripping me. I tried to rip free from him, but he only squeezed tighter.
“I knew I’d eventually find you here.” I didn’t like the way he was looking at me.
“You’re hurting me…let go.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so.” He then pulled me close, touching my ass and trying to kiss me. I shoved him away, groaning as I tried to fight him off. “Get the hell off me!”
“What’s wrong, mija? Haven’t you missed me?
” He gripped my face and held me tight, forcing me to look at his smug mug.
“What? You think ‘cause you went and got yourself clean I’d just let you go?” Ray laughed.
“Last time I let you go, I ended up in jail…serving time for all that shit you were taking.”
“That was years ago. I’m clean now…I don’t do that shit anymore. And we were over the minute you tried to sell me to those ‘friends’ of yours down at that weird club.” I pushed him off me, watching as his smile fell. “Leave me alone.” I turned to leave when he grabbed me again.
“Get your ass back her—”
I swung my arm, slapping him across the face. His jaw tightened as he growled, glaring at me with such raging hatred. I slowly reached my hand into my bag, feeling for the grip of my handgun. He raised his arm to hit me back—just like he always did—when an unfamiliar voice stopped him.
“So sorry to interrupt, but is everything alright here?” I turned around to see a tall man with brown hair, wearing a black leather jacket over a dark shirt and jeans.
His smile reminded me of someone…but I couldn't quite place it, too distracted by the massive men behind him.
He stepped between me and Ray, gently pushing me into the two men who surrounded me.
“I said…” He stepped toward Ray, lifting his jacket for him to see. “Is everything alright here?”
Ray eyed the man up and down. “Nah.” He then shot his eyes back to me. “Perra,” he muttered, spitting at the man’s feet. “Till next time, mija.” Ray stepped back into the crowd, disappearing from view.
An immediate wave of relief hit me as I exhaled.
“Interesting.” I looked at the man in front of me who was staring after Ray. He turned around to face me. There was just something about his face that felt so damn familiar to me…I couldn't place it, but it was gnawing at my mind.
Who are you?
The man motioned his men away. “Are you okay?” I nodded. “Good. Say, why don’t you join me?” He offered his hand to me with a grin that felt a little disturbing.
“I-I was actually on my way home.” He didn’t move. “Thank you for everything, but I should really get going.”
“One drink.” His smile grew. “That’s all I’m asking for.”
I knew better than to say yes, but something about this man had me feeling even more hesitant to deny him what he wanted, so I gambled and nodded.
The man helped guide me through the crowd to his VIP booth.
He sat down, patting the spot next to him.
Hesitant, I clung to my bag and sat down.
With a snap of his fingers, bottle service arrived.
They poured some flutes of champagne and left, leaving us alone as his two men guarded the walkway into the booth.
“To new friends.” He raised his glass for a toast, waiting for me to do the same. I reached out and picked the flute up, trying to keep my cool.
The sooner you get this over with, the sooner you can go home to Felix.
“To new friends.”
He clinked his glass into mine and downed the entire thing. “Ahh! Forgive me, I never even asked your name…friend.” The way he pronounced that final word made me feel uneasy.
I hesitated again before answering him. “Danika. My name’s Danika.” But as I said the words, I immediately regretted telling him.
The man nodded softly. I didn’t like the way he looked at me…as if searching for something important. “Danika…” He reached over, raising a strand of my hair. “I must say, your hair color is so unique. I imagine not many people have it, do they?”
I shot to my feet, gathering my hair as I stumbled back and forced a smile. “Thank you so much for the drink! And for earlier!” He eyed me closely. “This has been so fun, but I really need to get going.”
“Why?”
His question threw me. “What?”
The man stood, adjusting his jacket. A bright flash of something caught my eyes and I noticed a gold signet ring on his finger. “What’s the rush?” He stepped closer. “You don’t have someone waiting at home, do you?” The man stopped directly in front of me.
There’s definitely something wrong with him.
And knowing that, I decided to switch how I was handling him.
“So what if I do?” I asked, losing my smile and the sweet tone I had been speaking in.
“Are you going to try and stop me from leaving?” I tilted my head.
“No…I don’t think so. Not unless you want me to scream.
” My smile returned. “Now, fucking move.”
The man grinned at my temper. “Oh my, you’re a feisty one now, aren’t you?” He paused, looking me up and down. “I can see why he’s always missing. I bet you keep him really busy, don’t you?”
“Excuse me?”
Was he talking about Felix?
The man looked past me and nodded to his men.
They stepped aside, leaving me enough room to leave the booth.
I turned to get the hell out of there when he spoke again.
“Oh, do me a favor, will you?” When I looked over my shoulder at him, he was sitting on the couch with a second glass in his hand, eyeing the gold ring along his finger.
“Tell Felix his time is up.” His dark eyes raised as he swirled the glass.
“This little fever dream of his is over. Will you do that for me, Danika?” I nodded.
“Good.” He motioned for me to leave, and I did.
What the hell?
I rushed away from him, making my way through the crowd as fast as I could. Not because I was scared for myself, but because something was telling me I needed to get to Felix. Fast.
I pulled my phone from my bag and dialed his number. He picked up almost immediately.
“Cottontail.”
I shot through the crowd of dancing people and approached the bar, hoping he would hear me. “How fast can you get here?” I looked around, noticing one of the strange man’s bodyguards eyeing me from across the club, and I knew something bad was about to happen. “I need you, Felix.”
“Don’t move.” The call ended.
I ordered a drink to help calm my nerves, remaining at the bar for a few minutes when a text came through. I glanced down to see it was from him.
Meet me out back.
I hearted his message and downed my drink before heading toward the exit. But as I walked through the crowd again, I noticed I wasn’t alone. I was being followed.
Fuck.
FELIX
Dream’s voice told me everything I needed to know, which is why I immediately dialed the one person I knew would help.
“Haze. How fast can you get to The Red Eye?” I quickly hopped my ass onto my bike, wearing a backpack.
He paused before answering, obviously hearing the panic in my voice. “I can be there in fifteen.”
I revved the bike. “Make it ten.” I shoved my head into the helmet, then hung up.
I’m coming for you, Dream.
The motorcycle roared as I sped down the street toward the club, giving no fucks to the red lights and stop signs I ran. All I fucking cared about was making sure she was safe.
As I sped down the highway, weaving through traffic, a sleek black BMW M5 shot across the lanes and drove up next to me. The driver’s window rolled down and I spotted my brother smoking a blunt. “Care to explain to me what the fuck is going on?” he shouted as we both swerved to dodge a car.
I sped around, returning to his side. “Stay close!”
Haze nodded, shadowing me the rest of the way to the club.
We pulled up and approached the back parking lot just in time to see Dream stepping out the back door.
She spotted me, lighting up with a smile as she picked up her pace.
I drove toward her, noticing the back door swing open again as one of Kief’s men stepped out behind her. “Dream!” I sped toward her.
She turned back, spotting the man. “Felix!” She sprinted toward me, but the man didn’t seem to care that I was there and pulled out a gun, aiming it at Dream.
No!